Sheet-piling.



P. J. LATHAM.

SHEET FILING. APPLICATION Plum .1111.11.15111.

Patentpd Aug. 29, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

@Inline/aow 'P. J. LATHAM.

SHEET FILING.

4APYLIGMION VHmm un. n, 1911.

Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

2 BHEBTB-BHEET 2y Saumur Q HMMMJ IIPEBSIE JULIAN" LATHAM, F I'lONG BRANCH, NEW JERSEY.

\ y y 'SHEET-Prune.;4

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Toallwhmt may :o1`u:e1-n:y i i n Be it "know'n thatl I,l PEnsIE JULIAN LA'i'HAMfa 'citizenof the United States, re sidin 'B New 4. `useful Im rovements in Sheet-Filing; and l.lf do here y'decplarethe following to be a A full, clear,and exact description ofthe vention, `such as will enable others skilled I l0 in the art to which it appertains to make,

anduse the same.

T hisinvention relates to certain improvements in sheet piling, or the like; and the 'objects'l and nature of my invention will be 16` readily understood b those skilled in .the art in. the light of t e yfollowing explana# 'tionl of the accompanying drawings illusltratin lwhat I now consider to be my pre-y ferre enibodiments'froin amon other for- '20 mations' and arrangements Ywithin the spirit andsco e'of my invention.

p `o ject of the invention is'to provide.

anvimpf'roved pile or beam. capable ofv interlocking, in various relations'and positions with adjacent members` against transverse strain,` and'soformed as to give the mart `mum strength with the use ofa minimum l amount @of material in the coiuitruction thereof. l E. 80 'A further object of the invention is. to

provide certain improvements in linterlock- Ving sheet piling"l to attain simplicity?,

strength, durability, Aeconomy in eonstruetion," and .varied adaptability for general" Biuse.

features in construction and in formations and arrangements as more fully and particularly set forthl hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawt6 Fig. k1", isa perspective view showing several of said elements of my invention assembled and interloeked to provide a different form or arrangement-from that ap caring in Fig.l l

"tongue forms a longitudinal ninety degree 1. Fg. 4,-is a perspective view ofthe pre 0 ferred metal reinforcement for'the ,pile or `construction element when made of` concrete, the pile beingy outlined by dotted "lines, the reinforcement bein shown inV full lines. Fig. 5, is-a top iplan illustrating vos" Specification of Letters Patent. Ptentd Aug, Appucatmnfaied niiary i1, 191i. serial mi soaiis.

at LongjBranch, Monmouth county,` ersey, have invented certain new and linstance 'or use.

'of a The invention1A consists in certain no vel exten yjacent aide-facev of t rions 4arrangements that can be followed in interlocking the piles or construction elements. i l

v The construction element of my Iinvention can be formed of any desiredvlengtli according to the-requirements of any particular quirenients willin each instance toa more oraless extent determine the exact foi-inafft'ion, thickness and width of the element. "="'In the particular examplel illustrated, each` element is comparatively wide with respect to its thickness, and throughout both longitudinal edges is similarly formed with longitudinal ribs or tongues and intervening grooves or sockets, the. longitudinal intervening sockets being similar in cross sectional forination to the ribs, that is, of, the same angle or of the' saine radius oriycurva-4 ture should the parts be curved or rounded. lalso prefer to foi'in the opposite edge por-A tions of the element Iwith such ribs or tongues alongy the opposite side faces thereof, so that either edge socket ot' any-,element can fit and receiveany one of saidside face ribs of another element. when said'elements are arranged at right angles to each other, as when foi-ming a corner.

In the drawings, I showeach element formed with av central longitudinal body or web l, of a uniform thickness throughout Also 'the particular Yiethe length ofthe element. The opposite longitudinal edge or interlocking portions.

of the element are alike and each consists in throughout the length ofthe element an forming 'the intervening longitudinal socket or groove3: `The two tongues `2, diverge aty an angle of` ninety degrees and ,henceform' the intervening ninety def fiatr at its longitudinalend edge andfsaidgrec triangular socket 3. Each tongue 2, is

flat endV face forms ninety degree@ angles withthe two flat side faces of the'tongue or ange. Each .tonguel diverges from the plane ofthe weber bod of the element at an angle of forty five, e rees, inthe particular example illustrate ,fa-ndihence each trian lar rib 20, at the end` of thejelement and orming onel side wall of the trian ular fpair of diverging {langer-iorjaws 2,

igloo The-two approximately similar longitudi- I nal sockets 3, at the opposite end edUes of the element, each formed by a pair oiF the ribs 20, are both of a fornito snugly receive any lone of the four ribs 20, or any one of the four ribs 21 of an element'whether saidribs are. formed bythe four diverging rectangular flanges or tongues 2, of the element or are otherwise formed at the opposite edge portions of the element.

' Construction 'elements when thus made with approximately Yeshaped end edges can be used for various construction purposes with the elements interlocking at their edges against lateral displacement The edge formation: is such that where'v the elements are being laid to form-a straight line or in continuation of eachother, asin Fig'. 2, for instance, every alternate `element will be offset from the line of the intervening elements, and each element Vdoubly interlocks with each abutting element in that one of its ribs 20, entersl'a 'socket 3, of the abutting element andone of the ribs 20, of the abutting element tits a socket, of the first named elenient and forms elongated zig-,zag joints between the elements, whereby maximum ,tightness against leakageis attained as well as maximum strength. l

I prefer to form the sockets and ribstri# A,

y 'angular in cross vsection with flat faces arranged at about ninety degree angles, where- -fby said flat faces of meeting elements 1- squarely in resisting transverse strains.

, ments are sunk in elements to rock on each othei'at the joints Construction elements 1 of the'general design or formation utility-for use in hydraulic yengineering work, .as well as for retaining walls, foundav tions, bridgeV work and in other construction work. For instance in Fig. 1,1 show aline of the elements interlocking to form a wall as for beach protection, or a jetty, `or to form a retaining wall. V-hen so used, the elethelsand or A.Soil either by driving, jetting,v orgpumping as will be readilvf understood by Athose skilled inthe to bethus sunk art. Vliere the elements are `or buried their lower ends are usually beveled oi, lsee 22, to facilitate the sinkingV process and to cause the elements to bear tightly againsteach other.

. By employing .the side ribs 21, of approximately the saine formation as 'the end sock- 'ets 3, the `elements ycan interlock informing corners and can be readily fitted togetherto form inclosures as shown by Figs`- l, 3. and '5, and to resist lateral pressure. Also, if so desired,.corner protecting'posts vor .piles such as 4, Fig. 5,' can be employed atfcorners to brace and interlock the two elements forming the corner against-inward and outward strains and'to enable the rnneranges of said elements to squarely abut, and' to 'protect the abut and resist the tendency. ofy

described are of kpeculiar A end kedges of said'felements against exterior pressure as Well as blows and damage.

The format-ion of my contraction element is such that it can be made of concrete, ce

vment, or the like to great advantage and utility. The design is such thatthe material is so rdistributed as 'to gain maximum strength and minimum use of material. I have designed an advantageous metal reinforcement"where`concrete is to be employed for the purpose of distributing the strain on any flange .2, throughout the element. l show such inetalreinforcement in Fig. 4, 'wherein metal rods 5,-are arranged longitudinally within 'the 'element in the flanges 2, respectively, While spaced longitudinal metalprods 50, are arranged in the body or web 1 These various rods are tied together at intervals throughout the length of the element by a series of transverse. trusses or wire bindings in such a manner that lateral strain on any one of the rods will be resisted by said wirebindings and thus distributed to all of the 4longitudinal rods. Each Wire binding is coiled' around each `rod 5, and extends directly between the rods 5, at each end of the element, see transverse lengths 6, and from one ro'd 5, the wire length 60, extends to theadjacent rod 50', 4and is"'coiled' around the same and from thence extends to the corresponding 'rod 5, at the rother' endof the element bearing against bnt'not coiled around the other rod 50, to form a truss between said rods 5. The 'other wirelength,l 61., also extends in a similar manner between the other two corresponding rods ]5, and is coiled on one rod 50, and bears against the other rod 5G, tc form a truss. The concrete element having its interlocking flanges thus reinforced and trussed `to distribute the strain on anyfflangr throughout the remainder of the, element presents a` structure'of great strength ant durability, and economy in construction ancv use because ofl comparative lightness anc` convenience for handling and A,minimun amount. of material employed.

`Where it is-desired to form a water tigh Wall with the sheet piling disclosed, woodei beads or strips can b e placed Lin the molds ii which' the concrete piles'are to be formed sy that said strips will' be located at the kapexe `of certain of the ribs 20. Whenthe piles ar laid and interlocked', these vooden strip can be withdrawn leaving `cavities a, Fig 2, at theapexesof vthe sockets 3f, and rit 2O, fitting therein, into which any suitabl Vwater proof elastic cement or sealing con pound can be poured, as will 4be readil understood'bythose skilled in the art. il at present 'advisedl do lnot wish to lim all features of my invention to the sheet pi or construction element having its ribs ar intervening sockets necessarily of angul: formation so long as the formation of tl ,limit myself to the exact approximately lposite longitudinal edge ribs is approximately the same as that of the sockets to permit any socket of a pile to A receive"`any rib of the adjacent p ile, and fur- It is evident'that various changes, modit y fcations and variations might be resorted to Without departingfrom the 'spirit and scope of my invention and hence I do'not Wish to disclosures hereof. What I claim is y l. Ay sheet pile element, or the like, having similar longitudinal end edges for interlocking with adjacent elements, each edge having a pair of longitudinal ribs and an intervening longitudinal socket, `the ribs and sockets correspondingin cross sectional formation.

2. f' A construction element for interlocking sheet piling, and the like, having its lon- `gitudinal end edges correspondingly formed with diverginglongitudinal flanges and-interveninglongitudinal sockets.

`3. A construction eleinelnt for interlocking sheet piling, and the like, having a comparatively Wide thin body or web and di# verging longitudinal edge flanges forming ribs and an intervening socket.

,4. A construction element having longi- .tudinal'edge flanges diverging about at anangle of ninety degrees to ing longitudinal socket. H

5. A construction element having its opportions correspondingly'f formed, each edgeportion having longitudinal ribs at'bot sides thereof,

orm an intervenand a pair of longitudinal ribs at the end elements,v longitudinal rein thereof forming an intervening longitudinal socket.

6. A construction element at itsopposite longitudinal edge portions formed with correspondingly shaped diverging flanges having rectangular corners and flat faces and forming intervening rectangular sockets.

7. A concrete, or cement construction elenient for interlocking sheet pilin and the like having edge flanges, longituc inal `reinforcing rods arranged in said, flanges and at intermediate points inthe body of said element, and transversely arranged truss forming ties between said rods,'substantially as described.

8. A concrete or cement construction element formed at its opposite longitudivnaledges for interlocking With-adjacent members and having longitudinal reinforcing rods arranged at said edges and at in termediate points, and series of transverselyy arranged truss forming metal ties uniting said rods for distributing the strain on any one of said end rods to the other rod and throughout the elements. y

9. A concrete or cement construction element having longitudinal flanges at its opposite edges for interlocking with adjacent orcing rods in said flanges, and truss forming ties between said rods and arranged at intervalsthroughout the element and forming trusses'transversely of the element from each end rod to the corresponding end rod to the4 opposite edge of the element, said 'ties being coiled around the rods.

In testimony whereof I ailix` my signature, i

in presence of tWo Witnesses.

PERSIE JULIAN LATHAM. Witnesses:

' JULIAN S. LATHAM, 4 HUBERT E. PEGK. 

